Middle East

The Israeli army is conducting five criminal investigations into the deaths of 11 Palestinians on the border with Gaza during the yearlong March of Return.

The investigations advanced from initial reviews of dozens of incidents to determine whether they should move on to criminal probes، The Jerusalem Post reported.

Some 250 Palestinians have been killed in the border demonstrations launched in March 2018 — including 189 by live ammunition fired by Israeli soldiers، according to a U.N. Human Rights report released late last month.

The report alleges that the soldiers have intentionally fired live ammunition at Palestinian protesters rioting at the border with Gaza، which would constitute crimes against humanity.

Among the investigations is one into the death of Palestinian paramedic Razan Alnajar on June 1، 2018، according to The Jerusalem Post.

A senior Israeli official briefed reporters in Geneva at a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the investigations، The Associated Press reported.